Engineering Honors Students
The College of Engineering offers outstanding students several ways through which they can distinguish themselves, including designation as an Honors student, Latin honors at graduation, graduation with distinction in the field of study, and graduation with honors in engineering.
The Engineering Honors program is designed to meet the needs of students with superior academic ability and to promote scholarly development throughout their college careers. The program's objectives are to challenge superior students by offering them access to more advanced levels of study, to optimize the use of their creative abilities, and to encourage a sustaining interest in advanced education and research.
First-year honors students participate in the Honors Program through membership in the University Honors & Scholars Center.
First-year engineering honors students have the option to participate in the Fundamentals of Engineering for Honors program. This rigorous first-year curriculum covers CAD, computer usage and programming, hands-on labs, written and oral reports, culminating in a robot design or "lab on a chip" project.
Enrolled students beyond the freshman year must maintain a cumulative point-hour ratio of at least 3.4, reviewed quarterly by the Director of the Engineering Honors Program, Robert Gustafson, in order to retain honors status. Students interested in participating in the honors program should contact their academic adviser or the College of Engineering Honors Advisor, Judith McDonald, for enrollment procedures.
Honors students are eligible to enroll in honors courses and receive scheduling priority. First-year students are eligible to apply for residence in one of several honors living-learning centers. Upper division honors students are eligible to participate in an undergraduate research project, including six to nine hours of independent study, the preparation of a senior research thesis, and subsequent oral defense of this thesis. These projects must be approved by the Honors Office.
Honors versions of courses are offered in both engineering-related and liberal arts areas. Students are encouraged to challenge themselves by attempting these courses. Popular pre-engineering choices include Fundamentals of Engineerning for Honors courses, honors calculus, honors physics or chemistry, and honors versions of social and physical science courses are also offered.
Honors courses are elective, not mandatory. A student who chooses not to enroll in honors courses will not jeopardize his or her honors status as long as a 3.4 cumulative point-hour ratio is maintained.
Graduating seniors may earn the designation of summa cum laude, magna cum laude, or cum laude based on their cumulative overall GPA. Honors students who complete a senior research thesis with successful oral defense are eligible to graduate "with distinction" in their major area of study. The application packet for graduation with distinction is available from this web page. Honors students are also eligible to graduate "with honors in engineering." The information and application packet for graduation with honors in engineering is also available from this web page.
Finally, University Honors are awarded to students who have distinguished themselves both by point-hour ratio and by a particularly challenging curriculum.
REQUIREMENTS TO ATTAIN AND MAINTAIN HONORS STANDING IN THE COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
Requirements to attain and maintain honors standing in the College of Engineering differ depending upon when a student entered The Ohio State University.
Students entering the University prior to Autumn 2006
Honors courses are elective, not mandatory. As long as a student maintains a 3.4 cumulative point-hour ratio, s/he will keep her or his honors status. Honors students may participate in the Graduation with Honors in Engineering (GHIE) program. Once in the program, a student is advised by a team including his/her program academic advisor, the College of Engineering Honors advisor, and a faculty mentor. For the most up-to-date information regarding this program, follow the Graduation with Honors in Engineering hotlink on this website.
Students entering the University Autumn 2006 or later
Honors courses are mandatory and students must maintain a 3.4 cumulative point-hour ration. Students must complete 6 honors, upper division (500+ not required by major), or graduate level courses over first 3 years NOTE: FEH companion courses (Math 161A series & Physics 131I series) count; a maximum of 2 of the 6 can be imbedded courses; Senior Petition graduate courses do not count. In addition, all students wishing to maintain an Honors status in the College of Engineering must have an approved Graduation with Honors application filed with the Honors Office by the end of their third year.
| REQUIREMENT | ENTERED PRIOR TO AU06 | ENTERED AU06 OR LATER |
|---|---|---|
| To maintain Honors status: CPHR | 3.4 CPHR end of each spring quarter | 3.4 CPHR end of each spring quarter Note: 3.3 end of first year only |
| To attain Honors status: CPHR | 3.4 CPHR; min 15 OSU graded credit hours |
3.4 CPHR; min 24 OSU graded credit hours |
| GHIE contract | Optional | Must have approved GHIE contract completed by end of third year to maintain Honors status |
| Honors courses Requirement | None; Honors coursework optional |
To maintain Honors Status:
6 honors, upper division (500+ not
required by major), or graduate level courses over first 3 years
NOTE: FEH companion courses (Math 161A series & Physics 131I series) count; a maximum of 2 of the 6 can be imbedded courses; Senior Petition graduate courses do not count. |
A variety of Honorary Societies are also available to qualified engineering students.
Additional information on academic opportunities for honors students can be found by clicking on the following links:
Fundamentals
of Engineering for Honors
University Honors
Honors Courses
Graduation with Honors (PDF)
Graduation with Distinction (PDF)
Combined BS/MS degree